Enhanced Sperm Cell Recovery from Cotton Swabs for Rape Kit Analysis

Regardless of the method utilized for the separation of vaginal and sperm cell DNA, the overall effectiveness of the procedure is ultimately dependent on the efficiency with which material can be eluted and recovered from a cotton swab. The issue is especially important with swab samples containing low numbers of sperm cells, where any loss makes it even more difficult to obtain a profile of the perpetrator. This project focuses on the development of improved methods for cell elution from a cotton matrix. Several alternative methods of intact cell removal have been investigated; including the use of cellulase-based enzyme mixtures [1], as well as the exclusive use of detergents [2]. These methods can be utilized in conjunction with or to circumvent conventional differential extraction.